Spectrum Yarns produces a range of yarns and fine knitwear, which has an outstanding reputation for producing consistently high quality products.

Based in the West Yorkshire mill town of Slaithwaite near Huddersfield, Spectrum Yarns designs and produces a range of fine knitwear, marketed under the Glenbrae brand, including jumpers, sweaters, pullovers and slipovers – all made from lambswool or merino wool with most going through nearly 30 different processes.

The owners of the company were increasingly concerned that the cost of heating and powering their extensive Victorian mill was becoming unsustainable and putting pressure on the viability of the 50-year-old company.

We were approached by the company to evaluate their problems and propose a solution, which resulted in the design, production and installation of a combined heat and power system. At the heart of the system is a V12 engine that can be powered by natural gas or biogas, is 91% efficient and runs almost silently. The combined heat and power system provides all the electricity the company requires and the ‘waste’ heat from the production of electricity is used to provide heating and hot water.

Their investment in a combined heat and power system was paid back within just one year. Their CO2 emissions are also significantly lower than when they were powered from the national grid.